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ScottishStudents
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GetthedetailsofEvie’s
Evie Carruthers, a Level 6 Football Performance student at Borders College and a rising star at Stenhousemuir Football Club, has been selected to represent the Scottish Students Women’s Football Team. This incredible achievement reflects Evie’s dedication to her sport and marks a significant milestone in her footballing career. Evie balances her studies at Borders College with her commitment to football, demonstrating exceptional discipline and drive both on and off the pitch. Representing Stenhousemuir FC, she has impressed with her performances, earning her recognition at the national level. Her selection for the Scottish Students Women’s Football Team is a testament to her hard work, skill, and passion for the game.
Evie’s selection has brought pride to the Borders College community, where staff and fellow students are celebrating her success. As a current student, Evie exemplifies the college’s commitment to nurturing talent and encouraging students to pursue excellence in their chosen fields. Her journey is an inspiration to her peers, highlighting the possibilities that can come from balancing academic studies with athletic ambitions.
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The Scottish Students Women’s Football Team features some of the most promising players in higher education across Scotland, and Evie’s inclusion places her among this elite group. The team provides a platform for talented players to compete at a higher level, fostering their development and showcasing their abilities on a national stage.
Evie’s achievements reflect her dedication to continuous improvement, both in training and during matches. Her performances for Stenhousemuir FC have caught the attention of coaches and selectors, paving the way for her to take the next step in her footballing journey.Evie’s story is one of hard work, perseverance, and passion. As she takes on this exciting opportunity with the Scottish Students Women’s Football
Team, she serves as a role model for young athletes at Borders College and beyond. Her success demonstrates that with determination and the right support, it is possible to excel both academically and athletically. Borders College and Stenhousemuir FC have expressed their full support for Evie as she prepares to represent Scotland at the student level. Her journey is a source of pride for the college, her teammates, and her local community, and all eyes will be on her as she takes this next exciting step in her footballing career.
Jack Murray- Borders College Football Lecturer said “It has been a pleasure to work with Evie this academic year, on and off the pitch. Having only recently left the youth National Academy Programme in the summer, Evie has transitioned well into senior football. At the age of 17 she has become a regular for Stenhousemuir Women in the SWF Championship and recently earned a place in the Scottish Student Squad after a successful trial.”
Lewis Gillie who studied the Developing Player ProgrammeFootball in 2023-2024 via the Schools Academy was recently selected for Hibs Scottish Cup team at only 16 years old. Lewis attended the College through the Academy and received specialist football coaching and strength and conditioning every week to aid his football development. The course covered 3 unitsFootball Performance, Circuit Training and Resistance Training all at Level 5.
Lewis originally played for Gala Fairydean before getting into the Hibs Academy. The former Gala Academy student came off the bench in the 72nd minute against Clydebank.
Link to Lewis’s Profile-
https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/players /academy/lewisgillie/
Maisie Maceira, a former Borders College student (HND Sports Coaching and Development), has been making headlines on the global cricket stage with her outstanding performances at the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025. Representing Scotland, Maisie recently claimed the Aramco Player of the Match (POTM) award after delivering a phenomenal performance against a strong opponent. Her remarkable five-wicket haul the first of the tournament—has set the tone for Scotland’s campaign and highlighted her as a rising star in international cricket.
Maisie’s cricketing journey began long before this World Cup, with a passion for the sport cultivated during her time growing up in the Borders. Known for her dedication and work ethic, Maisie balanced her academic pursuits with a commitment to refining her skills on the cricket field. This dedication has propelled her to the national stage, earning her a spot on the Scotland U19 squad.
Maisie’s profile on the ICC website highlights her as a key player for Scotland. As a bowler, her ability to control the game and deliver under pressure has been instrumental in the team’s performances. Her five-wicket haul in the tournament opener not only demonstrated her technical skill but also her mental toughness and determination. Scotland faced a challenging start to their World Cup campaign, taking on a formidable Australian team in their opening match. Maisie’s contributions ensured Scotland could compete on an equal footing, and her efforts have earned her recognition as one of the tournament’s standout players.
Maisie’s success story resonates with aspiring cricketers, particularly in the Scottish Borders region. Her journey from Borders College to the world stage underscores the importance of hard work, resilience, and a supportive community.
Borders College staff, students, and alumni have expressed immense pride in Maisie’s accomplishments. Her story serves as an inspiration for young athletes, proving that with determination and the right support, it is possible to achieve greatness.
As Maisie continues her World Cup journey, the Borders College community and cricket fans across Scotland will be watching eagerly, cheering her on. Her achievements are not only a personal triumph but also a milestone for women’s cricket in Scotland.
You can watch all 5 of Maisie’s wickets from her POTM performance by clicking here.
By Ross Cadzow
Since leaving Borders College, Matt has started coaching at Hawick RFC, where he now plays his rugby. Matt has since spoken about the importance of Borders College in allowing him to pursue his rugby aspirations. The flexibility offered by the College allowed Matt to attend his almost-daily gym and pitch training sessions, as he chased his dream of representing Scotland Under 20s in Kenya at the Under 20s World Rugby Trophy. The college offered Matt extensions, and ways to work around his rugby commitments, which provided crucial in chasing his rugby goals. Instead of having to neglect his rugby, the college allowed Matt to balance his studies with his playing, enabling him to get the best out of both worlds. This support has been provided by the college to all of these athletes competing at the highest level of club rugby in Scotland, and has allowed them to be the best players they can be. The success of this support offered by Borders College is clear to see. As previously mentioned, Matt represented his country at Under 20 level, and also appeared at semi-professional level. Furthermore, because of his qualifications gained from Borders College, Matt is now a full-time development officer at Hawick RFC and as Academy Coach, and is loving balancing his coaching with his playing once again. Overall, the success of Borders College students on the rugby pitch, has highlighted the importance of the support provided by Borders College off the pitch. Without the support offered by the College to balance playing aspirations with coursework and classes, these athletes would struggle to accomplish their goals of playing at the highest domestic level of rugby in Scotland.
By Ross Cadzow
Last month, four former Borders College students played their part in the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership Final. Emily Love, Merryn Gunderson, Morgan Welsh and Faye Sutherland all played their part in helping Corstorphine Cougars overcome reigning champions Stirling County in an enthralling finale. In the Arnold Clark Men`s Premiership, a further 6 former and current Borders College students represented their teams respectively. One of these former students is Matt Reid. Matt completed the HN Sports Coaching and Development course at Borders College and has since gone on to represent Scotland Under 20s in 2023, as well as the Boroughmuir Bears in the FOSROC Super Series in 2024.
Another athlete is current HN Business student Grace Botterhill. Grace is a talented Scottish eventer, balancing her academic pursuits with an impressive career in equestrian sports. Grace competes at a high level in eventing, a challenging discipline combining dressage, show jumping, and cross-country. We are currently piloting a programme with Grace to provide supplementary support in terms of Strength and Conditioning, Sports Psychology and Video Analysis among other aspects of performance.
Borders College students can take up the excellent opportunity at our partner gym, Tri-Fitness Located next to the College, students can pay the following membership prices for the student membership:
September - January £40 00
January - April £30.00
April - July £20.00
This means that students can get the whole year for £90.
Borders College staff can get a Full Membership, including all normal benefitsswimming pool etc, for £33 per month.
Students and staff just need to take their College Identification to the desk at Tri Fitness.
Introduction to Sports Coaching & Fitness (Schools Academy)
BASE Achieving Excellence in Sport Mountain Biking
Access to HNC Sports Coaching & Fitness
HNC Sports Coaching & Development
HND Sports Coaching & Development
